Chapter 265: Whispers of the Wild

Lin Zheng Ran finished washing his hands and led Lily to the public restroom.

Lily walked slowly beside him with her hands behind her back, pondering how to bring it up.

Earlier, during their chat with the three girls, she’d breezily said, “Seven? No way!” but now in the moment, she felt nervous and shaky.

Still, she had to speak up—seven was just too many.

The ultimate playboy.

They stopped in front of the restroom.

Lin Zheng Ran watched Lily, who was still deep in thought.

“The restroom’s right here. Why aren’t you going in?” Lin Zheng Ran asked curiously.

Lily snapped out of it. “The restroom? Oh, right! I’m on my way!”

She dashed into the girls’ bathroom and called back, “Wait for me a few minutes, Zheng Ran.”

Inside, she quickly took care of business.

When she came out, she saw a girl in a super short skirt hitting on Lin Zheng Ran.

“Hey handsome, can I get your contact info? You’re so good-looking.”

It startled Lily. She hurried over, clenching her fists. “He’s got a girlfriend! No contacts for you! Absolutely not!”

Lin Zheng Ran nodded, seeing her urgency. “Sorry, I really do have a girlfriend.”

The girls trying to chat him up looked embarrassed and left reluctantly.

“My apologies.”

Lin Zheng Ran turned back to Lily. “All done?”

Lily gritted her teeth. “You idiot, how do you always attract girls like this? From childhood to now, how many times has it been!”

“How is that my fault? I’m not the one starting the conversations.”

That made her even more upset. “So you want to start them? Three girls aren’t enough for you?”

Seeing Lin Zheng Ran eyeing her curiously, she blushed and stammered, “I mean, a normal guy has just one girlfriend. You’re already quite the flirt, so maybe it’s time to settle down and behave.”

“Okay, I get it.”

Lily eyed him skeptically, wondering if he really understood—it didn’t show at all.

Lin Zheng Ran said, “Shall we head back? We’ve eaten our fill; time to rest.”

Lily thought they could stretch this date to three hours. Even if things didn’t get too intimate, holding hands or hugging would be nice. She tucked her hands behind her back again:

“What’s the rush? I ate too much barbecue. Let’s walk it off. Join me for a stroll? I heard there’s a little stream further up. Want to check it out?”

Without a word, Lin Zheng Ran turned and started walking.

After a few steps, he glanced back at Lily, who hadn’t followed. “Come on, what are you waiting for?”

Lily hurried after him. “Wait up!”

They headed up through the campsite. The mountain forest after the rain was fresh and vibrant, a sea of green as far as the eye could see.

Lily moved with light steps, her twin ponytails bouncing as she climbed.

Like a little roe deer.

Out of nowhere, Lin Zheng Ran asked, “Did you feel any pain when you woke up this morning?”

Hearing that, Lily understood and covered her backside with her hand, shaking her head in embarrassment. “No, not at all. Actually, I feel lighter than usual, better than ever. I don’t know why.”

Lin Zheng Ran knew it was the energy at work.

It seemed that after those activities, the energy value restored the stamina of these three girls.

And it even had a skin-whitening and beautifying effect.

Seeing he didn’t respond, Lily murmured softly, “You carried me back to the hotel last night, right? I dreamed about you.”

“What did you dream?”

She mumbled something unclear.

Lin Zheng Ran couldn’t make it out. “What was that?”

Lily looked down, blushing. “A… spring dream.”

Lin Zheng Ran was surprised and chuckled. “Really? Well, that’s a nice dream, I suppose.”

Lily didn’t know what to say, but she had to admit it felt like a good one.

Finally, they reached the edge of the upstream stream. Surprisingly, there were no tourists around.

A sign nearby warned against wild camping, so people just glanced and moved on without lingering.

Besides, the stream was just a simple, clear flow of water heading down the mountain—clean and pretty, but nothing special.

Lily bit her lip. “I watched a show once that said the first experience between a couple is really important for their relationship. Last night felt great for me. What about you, Zheng Ran? How was it?”

Lin Zheng Ran looked at this tsundere girl curiously.

Lily avoided his gaze, feeling his stare burn her cheeks. “Why are you staring like that? What do you mean by it?”

“Nothing much. Last night was better than I expected. You’re a bit sweeter than I imagined, Lily.”

She let out a soft hum, but inside, she was thrilled.

Lin Zheng Ran scanned the area and spotted an interesting spot.

“We’ve seen enough here. Let’s check out somewhere else.”

“Oh.”

They walked to a nearby cliff. Lin Zheng Ran sat on the grass, leaning against a tree.

“This is nice.” He asked, “You’ve been talking about last night since we started. Not satisfied?”

Her face turned red. “Of course not… Well, if I wasn’t, I wouldn’t bring it up. It’s just because it was so good that…” She couldn’t finish.

It lingered in her mind.

Lin Zheng Ran knew no one was nearby; he could hear everything around them clearly.

He patted the spot in front of him. “Sit here.”

Lily hesitated for a moment before sitting on his lap obediently.

Lin Zheng Ran added, “Not facing me—turn around. How can you see the view that way?”

“Ah? Oh.” She wasn’t sure what he was up to.

But honestly, the view couldn’t compare to him.

Still, she sat with her back to him, leaning against his chest.

A gentle breeze rustled their hair, and Lily took his hand in hers.

Lin Zheng Ran said, “Last night, we didn’t get to hold each other much in that situation. This is just making up for it.”

“We did hug a bit, though. It’s not like we didn’t.”

Lin Zheng Ran looked down at her.

Lily’s bright eyes flickered, understanding his intent, but she’d agreed with Heqing and Wen Wen not to go beyond hugging.

Otherwise, the ice bucket challenge awaited.

Yet… as she leaned in to kiss him,

Lin Zheng Ran pulled back and asked, “What did you want to talk about when you came to find me alone?”

She wondered if he knew—probably not.

“Oh, nothing really. Just wanted you to walk with me.” Why am I lying like this?

“Are you sure?” He frowned. “Say it after me: Lily is a fool.”

“Why would I say that!” But under his serious gaze, she bit her lip in fear and embarrassment, mumbling, “Lily is a fool.”

Lin Zheng Ran said, “Louder—barely anyone can hear that.”

Lily ducked her head, face flushed. “Lily is a fool!”

Lin Zheng Ran continued, “Now say: Lily is a little dog.”

Lily was mortified. “I’m a little dog.” Tears welled up, full of grievance. “I’m sorry, Zheng Ran! I won’t lie anymore. I’ll tell you everything!”

In no time, she spilled about her friends’ plan.

She laid out every detail of their discussion to Lin Zheng Ran.

What can I say? It’s Zheng Ran—how could I not?

Lin Zheng Ran knew she was telling the truth this time. “So that’s how it is.”

“Yeah.”

He asked, “So, Lily, do you think seven is too many?”

Lily was truly scared now—Zheng Ran was intimidating:

“I didn’t say that exactly. Just… maybe a tiny bit too many. Just a little! But Zheng Ran, are you really going for seven?”

Lin Zheng Ran replied, “Wen Wen told you, right? Seven’s just the limit, not a goal. I might not reach it, but I won’t go over.”

“Alright… I know you’re a flirt, but with seven days in a week, maybe give yourself a rest day? Six is plenty. Or if you don’t want to rest, I could take two days a week?”

Lin Zheng Ran couldn’t hold back a laugh.

“I’ll think about it.”

She smiled and leaned in to kiss him, hoping to smooth things over. But he asked, “Didn’t you bet with them not to get too close? Something about an ice bucket if you did?”

Lily sighed. “What can I do? I lied earlier and it seemed like you were mad. I had to apologize, right? Besides, we’ll hit the hot springs later anyway. Let them pour if they want.”

She kissed him on the lips. “Don’t be mad, Zheng Ran. I won’t do it again, okay?”

They melted into a kiss, and Lily turned to straddle his lap.

They enjoyed the moment fully.

As things heated up, Lin Zheng Ran reminded her, “Lily, this is a tourist area. People might show up.”

“Then tonight, I’ll sneak into your tent?”

“Sure.”

Lin Zheng Ran wrapped his arms around Lily and kissed her again.